Brown touts climate program progress

California's climate policies should serve as a model for international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, governor Jerry Brown (D) said.

"What happens here does not stay here," Brown said yesterday, noting the long history of California's environmental efforts spreading to the rest of the nation.

California's efforts under AB 32, the state's climate law, such as the cap-and-trade program and renewable energy standard, have spawned needed private sector innovations, Brown said. Similar efforts elsewhere can help cut emissions, he said.

"We have to make changes, but those changes are not made in government halls. We do not make batteries in the [Environmental Protection Agency] or state government. In order to get the technology made we need the incentives," put in place by government, Brown said.

Brown spoke at an event in Sacramento hosted by the University of Southern California's Schwarzenegger Institute along with environmental group R20 and the California Air Resources Board as part of the lead-up to UN climate talks next year. The session centered on the risks that the state faces from climate change in terms of sea-level rise and longer fire seasons, and what it has learned from the climate policies it has in place.

Former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who pushed AB 32 through the state legislature in 2006, spoke about the climate programs that have been largely implemented by his successor.

"Our success has shown that sub-national governments have tremendous power … to lead the way in the fight against climate change," he said. "Now I hope there is an international agreement, I hope there is a Kyoto 2, because as you know I like sequels, but it is not going to be easy."

The event comes as Brown has taken fire on the climate programs during his re-election campaign. During a campaign debate last week, Republican Neel Kashkari criticized the cap-and-trade program as being designed to raise energy prices, but said he believed in the science of climate change.

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